Breaking News

Sanofi-Aventis is buying Merck's ownership share of animal-health giant Merial. That's not all -- the deal opens up an option to combine Merial and Schering-Plough Animal Health.

Columbus, Ohio -- Dr. Lonnie King, currently the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases, will take over as dean of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Sept. 1.

Washington -- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) again delayed implementation of its new rules to fight identity theft. The enforcement date for the controversial Red Flags rule is now Nov. 1, 2009, the agency reports today in a prepared statement.

Philadelphia -- In an open letter to friends and supporters, the dean of the University of Pennsylvania?s veterinary school warns that a proposed 24 percent cut in state funding for the school will have a ?devastating impact? on the school and the Commonwealth.

Portland, Ore. -- Banfield, The Pet Hospital will discontinue ear cropping and tail docking surgeries, the company reports today.

Washington -- A summary of the latest research on equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), based on interviews with 18 veterinarians or state equine program managers who dealt with outbreaks in recent years, is available through the USDA?s Animal and Plant Health Inspections Services' (APHIS) Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH).

New York -- Pets with cancer whose owners can?t afford treatment can get financial help from a newly established philanthropic fund, based on veterinarian referrals.

Fort Collins, Colo. -- Veterinary researchers at Colorado State University discovered that cells in diseased heart valves of dogs and humans produce serotonin, which they believe may be the driving force behind mitral-valve disease in both.

Phoenix -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed legislation banning the practice of horse tripping and creating a registry of equine rescue facilities and a public list of those facilities.

Connecticut lawmakers recently moved to ban three types of primates.

Baton Rouge, La. -- Tuition is going up at the Louisiana State (LSU) University School of Veterinary Medicine next year, due to a new state bill that authorizes controllers at several state universities to impose increases.

Washington -- DVM Newsmagazine columnist Dr. Michael A. Obenski, Managing Editor James M. Lewis and Art Director Bill Joyce captured national and regional gold awards during the American Society of Business Publication Editors? (ASBPE) 31st annual Azbee Awards of Excellence.

Davis, Calif. -- A selected group of 10 students who face greater challenges than their peers in applying to veterinary school are participating in the University of California-Davis veterinary school's annual five-week summer enrichment program.

Finding may offer improved treatment for human stress-related syndromes, such as burnout.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- Two future food-animal veterinarians were awarded scholarships from the Future Farmers of America.

New York -- The American Kennel Club (AKC) organized a new AKC Canine Health and Welfare Advisory Panel.

Boston -- A proposed Massachusetts bill aimed at banning the controversial devocalization surgery in dogs has veterinarians barking about public disclosure of client information and infringement of medical practice.

San Francisco -- San Francisco may become the second U.S. city to adopt legislation banning the declawing of cats for non-therapeutic reasons.

Washington -- The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges has a new president -- Dr. Warick Arden, dean of North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Washington -- With the backing of the Obama administration, a new measure introduced in the U.S. House seeks to ban non-therapeutic uses of antibiotics for food animals because they are too important for human health.

Technicians now enjoy more ways to develop expertise.

Seattle -- Some 4,228 veterinarians attended the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) meeting this week.

Seattle -- Veterinarian volunteers made improvements, not only to an equine rescue facility as announced earlier, but also to two Seattle area pet shelters during the American Veterinary Medical Association convention.

Abbott Park, Ill. ? A multi-year agreement to market a new chemotherapeutic agent for dogs was finalized by Abbott and Oasmia Pharmaceutical of Uppsala, Sweden.

Sacramento -- In a proactive measure aimed at increasing the number of practicing veterinarians in California, legislators moved forward a bill that will require the state to loosen its licensing practices.

While several AVMA delegates expressed displeasure about being cut out of last November's ear cropping and tail docking policy change, the buzzwords on Friday were that any policy reversal would result in negative "unintended consequences."

Seattle -- AVMA member dues will not increase in 2010 despite a downturn in association revenue due to the recession.

"We are not working as a team," says AVMA Executive Board Chair Dr. David L. McCrystle to a packed House of Delegates meeting Friday.